How do you attack short balls? And what are other ways to attack?

[Power Player]

Originally Posted by 5263

I did & fail to get your point. What am I missing?

Swinging volley from near mid ct is surely a short ball attack and
not really too different from a normal groundstroke.

OP was-
How do you attack short balls? And what are other ways to attack?

Swing volley is how some attack short balls as well as an other way to
attack, right?
What did I miss? You have me very curious ..

I know you love to argue in every thread so I will let this be. Sure, swing volley is fine.

[5263]

Originally Posted by Power Player

I know you love to argue in every thread so I will let this be. Sure, swing volley is fine.

Says the guy who was telling another poster his point was meaningless....

No, really I figured I had missed some aspect of the OP that would disqualify
the swinging volley, but I guess not.

[Cheetah]

2 ways you can attack a short ball:

1) is with severe brush. finish low. must get brushing sound on contact. no pop. I use this on 'off days' when I'm hitting below par. easy to get the ball in and wide with this

2) 'rip it to the hip'. (named by the serve doctor) start high, contact at shoulder or above and finish low. finish must be low.

Jeff Salzenstein also just posted a vid on this and this is the method I use most. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDOBO...&feature=g-all

he also has a vid on the brush method but i couldn't find it.

[y11971alex]

I try to slice it right to the corner and expect a feeble pass that could be smashed.

[ramos77]

get to the ball early so it's at shoulder height, don't let it drop.

hit down into the court with a flat shot if the ball is high.

if you let the ball drop, use top spin and brush up on the ball to bring it down into the court.

I usually attack the backhand side a few times in a row, then switch to the forehand to get them moving the wrong way.

you can disguise a down the line forehand by making it look like your are hitting an off forehand, then at the last moment flicking the ball down the line.

practice, practice, practice.

get a coach to drill you

[toly]

Kvitova hits short low ball running forward backhand winner.


Figure 3. Kvitova short low ball running backhand before and after contact

This is original video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy2Q1V4cO0k

[LeeD]

Problem with posting pics of pro level baseliners is that they have the footwork and precision of swing to hit a clean winner, while WE can only do it maybe one in 3 tries, the 2 going into the net and long.
What amatuer level players need is a de facto attacking shot that is SAFE for us, replicable, and NOT use too much energy.
I can't imagine using as much energy as K does on a backhand approach. AND, she prolly clears the net by 9", and hits within a foot of the sideline.

[NTRPolice]

It really depends how short and how high the ball is. If you can take it in the air, why wouldnt you at least 90% of the time? Singles or doubles makes a difference too. If its singles, id consider dropping it way more than in doubles.

If I have an even or downward swing path after the bounce ill take a full swing more often than not. Once the swing path has to go upwards the choice becomes a lot harder.

Topspin anything is going to be dramatically harder if it has to go upwards first before crossing the net especially if you're trying to hit a clean winner. If you dont have a modern fore/backhand I wouldnt even try this shot. If you're wearing knee/wrist/elbow braces I wouldnt try it either. You need to be very low and "brushy" to perform this shot under pressure.

Honestly? In doubles if I can squat and hit an overhead when im playing net I will choose that more than not. In singles ill hit a swinging volley or a drive after I let it bounce.

A "short ball" is really too vague to say definitively what you can play because the circumstances and player ability are so broad.

[goran_ace]

Attack with placement, power is only a secondary concern.

[5263]

Originally Posted by goran_ace

Attack with placement, power is only a secondary concern.

yep, and manage the bounce height. (up or down out of the strike zone)

[LeeD]

And the REASON you attack a short ball with placement, instead of pure pace, is that you are already closer to your opponent, and give less time for the opponent to react to your shot. And placement over pace is more consistent, the shorter court you have to hit is harder to control depth, and you're also closer to the net.

[Ballinbob]

Originally Posted by fuzz nation

Another great attack with that slice approach can be leaving it semi-short (not quite a drop shot) so that it forces opponents to lunge forward and shovel the ball up. Step up (yes, to the net) and enjoy your free lunch! This is the "north-south" sort of attack that's worth considering in case you can't beat someone with more of an "east-west" array of shots.

Fuzz, I play a guy who does this to me all the time and I really struggle with it. I can beat him pretty handily with the "east-west" array of shots as you put it and he knows this. He does this short slice that makes me lunge forward and I honestly don't know any 4.5-5.0 guys who do it as good as him. I'm a 6'3 baseline player with a westerm grip and end up playing this guy pretty close every time. He is a good player and I respect this strategy, but I feel if I figure this out I can beat him more often.

Right now when he slices it short I slice it back (forehand and backhand) and retreat to the baseline where I'm most comfortable. It's just so tough for me to be in a baseline rally and then all of a sudden have to lunge forward to retrieve this short slice.

I guess my footwork/forward movement isnt too great but thought I'd see what you think of this.

[5263]

Originally Posted by fuzz nation

Another great attack with that slice approach can be leaving it semi-short (not quite a drop shot) so that it forces opponents to lunge forward and shovel the ball up. Step up (yes, to the net) and enjoy your free lunch! This is the "north-south" sort of attack that's worth considering in case you can't beat someone with more of an "east-west" array of shots.

THis is a version of what I advocate and discuss in the Smarter Targets thread.
While I usually tend to use the short angle in conjunction with it, we seem to be
looking for the same effect. When you work it on an angle, you can keep it even
shorter and open up the court more as well.

[Power Player]

Ballinbob

I would strongly suggest practicing getting those slices better. I had to do a drill with my coach where he gave me those balls and I had to basically come really low under them and "throw them into a corner" with topspin. Once you come in to the net, you don want to be running backwards. You want to keep moving forward and end the point.

What I like to do sometimes is hit a drop shot, and the guy attacking it is prone to slicing it back DTL, I will get ready for that and get there for it early. It sets up a pretty easy CC lob for a winner.

[LeeD]

Welcome back, BallinBob...
If you opponent gives you the net, you should take the net....behind a deep underspin approach shot usually DTL.
Since you are 6'3" now, you can hang 2' inside your service line, awaiting his pass attempt or lob. Shorter players need to get closer to cover all pass attempts, leaving the lob more open.
Use you advantage. Height and reach.

[NLBwell]

Serve and Volley is another way to attack.

[5263]

Originally Posted by LeeD

Since you are 6'3" now, you can hang 2' inside your service line, awaiting his pass attempt or lob. Shorter players need to get closer to cover all pass attempts, leaving the lob more open.

So you think taller players do better in NMsL?

[LeeD]

Well, for sure, at 5'11" currently, I would cover more passing shots and lobs by being 4" taller, but also 6" more reach, possibly more.
Not sure what NsML is, but I suspect it's normal or medium tall?

[LeeD]

Oh, NML, as in No man's land?
Yes, a taller player can still hit a slice approach shot deep into a corner, move in to just inside the service line, and cover more court than a shorter person.

[5263]

Imo a taller person is more vulnerable in NMsL than a shorter person in general,
and has less need to be there.
for what it's worth, but
I don't really suggest it for anyone except the movement challenged because it
has that name for a reason.